Fourth of July in Vermont

Each July Fourth, the city of Montpelier, Vermont, my old home town, hosts a huge parade and fireworks display.  Actually, they usually do it on July 3rd, probably assuming that people will want to stay up late to watch the fireworks because most people don't have to work the next morning.

For the past three or four years, my family has traveled to Montpelier for this wonderful event.  Since my parents still live there, it's usually a good excuse for us to freeload (I mean stay with them) for a day or two.  The parade generally lasts about two hours, starting near the public library and ending down by the high school.  It includes the typical fire trucks, floats, bands and politicians, but it's rather unique in that it also includes many groups of people touting various causes.

One of the groups that participates every year is the Bread & Puppet Theater from Glover, VT.  Here's a video excerpt of them parading down State Street in front of the State Capitol.  I must say that the six foot-something guy in drag and playing the trumpet was very good.  And it amazed me how he could march in high heels and play the trumpet at the same time.

This year we brought my in-laws along for the ride because it had been many years since my parents and my wife's parents have gotten together, so it was a great opportunity for them to catch up.  Plus, my wife's parents hadn't been to Vermont in even more years, so it was a welcome change of scenery for them as well.

Following the parade, we headed for Stowe where we spend three nights in a chalet at the Stowe Motel.  The Stowe Motel/Snowdrift is a 16-acre property that is great for families.  It has two outdoor pools, loaner mountain bikes that may be used on the famous Stowe Rec Path and it sits along the West Branch River.

Striking a pose along the Stowe Rec Path with Mt. Mansfield in the background

The Stowe Rec Path is about 5.5 miles long.  It begins behind the quintessential white-steepled church in the center of Stowe village and meanders along the West Branch River ending by the Topnotch Resort & Spa.  We found it great for my son because he's just learning to control his bike a bit better, and on the Rec Path we didn't have to worry about cars zipping past us.

The nice thing about the West Branch River is that there are a number of places to stop and dip your feet in the water.  One such places was directly behind the Stowe Motel and our son had a great time playing in the cold mountain fed water.

My son playing in Stowe's West Branch River

My son spent nearly as much time playing in the river as he did playing in the pool.  As a matter of fact, the river water was so cold that it made the pool feel that much warmer.

And who could go to the Stowe area without visiting the Ben & Jerry's Factory?  In addition to sampling their ice cream, we like to visit their Flavor Graveyard and pay our respects to the flavors that didn't quite cut it with the general public.  It sits up on a hillside behind the factory, and in close proximity to the playground.

The Waterbury area (where Ben & Jerry's is located) has become quite a mecca for Vermont products.  A couple miles down the road from B&J's is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  As you drive along Interstate 89 past Waterbury, roll down your window for a whiff of the coffee being made there, or better yet, stop by their visitor center in the restored 1875 train station in downtown Waterbury to learn all about the company.

Up the road a piece, is the Cabot Annex store where you can get Cabot's award-winning cheese (about the only cheese my family will eat) and other great Vermont products.  Nearby is the Ziemke Glassblowing Studio and around the corner from Cold Hollow Cider Mill.  Cold Hollow is great to visit anytime, but personally I like going in the fall when they're pressing fresh apple cider.

Our little smiling apple at Cold Hollow Cider Mill

  All in all we had a great trip to Stowe.  The two bedroom, two bath chalet with kitchen and living room was the perfect amount of space for my family and my wife's parents.  We watched the Stowe fireworks from across the street on July 4th and started thinking about when we can visit the Stowe Motel again in the future.